<p>The German verb sprechen means to speak or to talk. It is an irregular (strong) verb and a stem-changing verb. Notice the change from <strong>e</strong> to <strong>i</strong> in the <strong>du</strong> and <strong>er/sie/es</strong> present tense forms. The past participle is <strong>gesprochen</strong>.</p><ul><li><strong>Principal Parts</strong>: sprechen (spricht) sprach gesprochen</li><li><strong>Imperative</strong> (<strong>Commands</strong>): (du) Sprich! | (ihr) Sprecht! | Sprechen Sie! </li></ul><table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" width="50%"><h3>Sprechen - Present Tense - <em>Präsens</em></h3></td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Singular Present Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich spreche</strong></td><td align="center">I speak/am speaking</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>du sprichst</strong></td><td align="center">you speak/are speaking</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er spricht<br/>sie spricht<br/>es spricht</strong></td><td align="center">he speaks/is speaking<br/>she speaks/is speaking<br/>it speaks/is speaking</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Plural Present Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>wir sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">we speak/are speaking</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ihr sprecht</strong></td><td align="center">you (guys) speak/<br/>are speaking</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sie sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">they speak/are speaking</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>Sie sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">you speak/are speaking</td></tr><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2">Examples:<br/> <strong>Sprechen Sie Deutsch?</strong><br/> Do you speak German?<br/> <strong>Er spricht sehr schnell.</strong><br/> He talks very fast.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" width="50%"><h3>Sprechen - Simple Past Tense - <em>Imperfekt</em></h3></td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Singular Simple Past Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich sprach</strong></td><td align="center">I spoke</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>du sprachst</strong></td><td align="center">you spoke</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er sprach<br/>sie sprach<br/>es sprach</strong></td><td align="center">he spoke<br/>she spoke<br/>it spoke</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Plural Simple Past Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>wir sprachen</strong></td><td align="center">we spoke</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ihr spracht</strong></td><td align="center">you (guys) spoke</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sie sprachen</strong></td><td align="center">they spoke</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>Sie sprachen</strong></td><td align="center">you spoke</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" width="50%"><h3>Sprechen - Compound Past Tense (Present Perfect) - <em>Perfekt</em></h3></td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Singular Compound Past Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich habe gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">I spoke/have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>du hast gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">you spoke/have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er hat gesprochen<br/>sie hat gesprochen<br/>es hat gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">he spoke/has spoken<br/>she spoke/has spoken<br/>it spoke/has spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Plural Compound Past Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>wir haben gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">we spoke/have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ihr habt gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">you (guys) spoke<br/>have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sie haben gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">they spoke/have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>Sie haben gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">you spoke/have spoken</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" width="50%"><h3>Sprechen - Past Perfect Tense - <em>Plusquamperfekt</em></h3></td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Singular Past Perfect Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich hatte gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">I had spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>du hattest gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">you had spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er hatte gesprochen<br/>sie hatte gesprochen<br/>es hatte gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">he had spoken<br/>she had spoken<br/>it had spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Plural Past Perfect Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>wir hatten gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">we had spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ihr hattet gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">you (guys) had spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sie hatten gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">they had spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>Sie hatten gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">you had spoken</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><h3>Sprechen - Future Tense - <em>Futur</em></h3></td></tr><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2">The future tense is used much less in German than in English. Very often the present tense is used with an adverb instead, as with the present progressive in English: <strong>Er ruft morgen an.</strong> &#61; He&#39;s going to call tomorrow.</td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Singular Future Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich werde sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">I will speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>du wirst sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">you will speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er wird sprechen<br/>sie wird sprechen<br/>es wird sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">he will speak<br/>she will speak<br/>it will speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Plural Future Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>wir werden sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">we will speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ihr werdet sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">you (guys) will speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sie werden sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">they will speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>Sie werden sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">you will speak</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" width="50%"><h3>Sprechen - Future Perfect Tense - <em>Futur II</em></h3></td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Singular Future Perfect Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich werde gesprochen haben</strong></td><td align="center">I will have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>du wirst gesprochen haben</strong></td><td align="center">you will have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er wird gesprochen haben<br/>sie wird gesprochen haben<br/>es wird gesprochen haben</strong></td><td align="center">he will have spoken<br/>she will have spoken<br/>it will have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Plural Future Perfect Tense</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>wir werden gesprochen haben</strong></td><td align="center">we will have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ihr werdet gesprochen haben</strong></td><td align="center">you (guys) will have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sie werden gesprochen haben</strong></td><td align="center">they will have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>Sie werden gesprochen haben</strong></td><td align="center">you will have spoken</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" width="50%"><h3>Sprechen - Commands - <em>Imperativ</em></h3></td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2">There are three command (imperative) forms, one for each &#34;you&#34; word. In addition, the &#34;let&#39;s&#34; form is used with <strong>wir</strong>.</td></tr><tr><td align="center">(du) <strong>sprich!</strong></td><td align="center">speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center">(ihr) <strong>sprecht!</strong></td><td align="center">speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sprechen Sie!</strong></td><td align="center">speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sprechen wir!</strong></td><td align="center">let&#39;s speak</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" width="50%"><h3>Sprechen - Subjunctive I - <em>Konjunktiv I</em></h3></td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2">The subjunctive is a mood, not a tense. The Subjunctive I (<strong>Konjunktiv I</strong>) is based on the infinitive form of the verb. It is most often used to express indirect quotation (<strong>indirekte Rede</strong>). Rare in conversational use, the Subjunctive I is often seen in newspapers, usually in the third person (<strong>er spreche</strong>, he is said to speak).</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Singular</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich spreche (würde sprechen)</strong>*</td><td align="center">I speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>du sprechest</strong></td><td align="center">you speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er spreche<br/>sie spreche<br/>es spreche</strong></td><td align="center">he speaks<br/>she speaks<br/>it speaks</td></tr><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2">*NOTE: Because the Subjunctive I (<strong>Konjunktiv I</strong>) of &#34;sprechen&#34; in the first person (<em>ich</em>) is identical to the indicative (normal) form, the Subjunctive II is sometimes substituted.</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Plural</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>wir sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">we speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ihr sprechet</strong></td><td align="center">you (guys) speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sie sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">they speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>Sie sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">you speak</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center" colspan="2" width="50%"><h3>Sprechen - Subjunctive II - <em>Konjunktiv II</em></h3></td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2">The Subjunctive II (<strong>Konjunktiv II</strong>) expresses wishful thinking, contrary-to-reality situations and is used to express politeness. The Subjunctive II is based on the simple past tense (<strong>Imperfekt</strong>, <em>sprach</em>), adding an umlaut &#43; e: <strong>spräche</strong>.</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Singular</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich spräche</strong></td><td align="center">I would speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>du sprächest</strong></td><td align="center">you would speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er spräche<br/>sie spräche<br/>es spräche</strong></td><td align="center">he would speak<br/>she would speak<br/>it would speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2"><strong>Plural</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>wir sprächen</strong></td><td align="center">we would speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ihr sprächet</strong></td><td align="center">you (guys) would speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sie sprächen</strong></td><td align="center">they would speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>Sie sprächen</strong></td><td align="center">you would speak</td></tr><tr><td align="left" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2">Since the subjunctive is a mood and not a tense, it can be used in various tenses. Below are examples that illustrate how <em>sprechen</em> forms the subjunctive in past or future time. In such cases, the subjunctive forms of haben or werden are combined with <em>sprechen</em>.</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2">Past Time</td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er habe gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">he is said to have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich hätte gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">I would have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>sie hätten gesprochen</strong></td><td align="center">they would have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center" bgcolor="#eeeeee" colspan="2">Future Time</td></tr><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>Deutsch</strong></td><td align="center" width="50%"><strong>English</strong></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>er werde gesprochen haben</strong></td><td align="center">he will have spoken</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>ich würde sprechen</strong></td><td align="center">I would speak</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><strong>du würdest gesprochen haben</strong></td><td align="center">you would have spoken</td></tr></tbody></table>